Trump’s secretary of state faces Senate
On Wednesday, the US Senate will review Donald Trump’s controversial pick for secretary of state – former ExxonMobil CEO Rex Tillerson.
Tillerson’s confirmation hearing will take place amid political tension over the Russian government’s role in the November election hacks.
Trump’s pick has oft been criticised for being too close to Russia – where he’s done business for decades – and President Putin, who awarded him Russia’s Order of Friendship in 2013.
Trump himself has also been attacked for being too soft on the Kremlin in recent months, attacks which have grown louder and closer to home in recent weeks. Wednesday’s hearing will give Democrats, and some Republicans too, the platform to voice their unease over Mr Trump’s apparent pro-Russia stance.
Ultimately, it is very unlikely Rex Tillerson will be rejected by the Senate; a Cabinet pick hasn’t been turned down in a quarter of a century.
